Kellie managed to successfully avoid me for the rest of the weekend. She ate meals in her room and when mom asked her what she's doing locked in her room all day, she declared she's studying. When mom asked me what's wrong with Kellie, I could only shrug my shoulders. If I told her what happened to my sister on Friday night she would freak out and lock us both in the house until our adulthood. Ignorance was a bliss in mom's case.

To get to school Kellie executed most impressive exit strategy this morning. She sneaked past mom when she was preparing breakfast.

​She didn't even grab any food in order to avoid me! She only gave me this sad look. It's breaking my heart! How long will she behave like this? I want to talk to her but I can't do it at home or mom could hear us. I have to catch her alone at school or somewhere outside.My little sister hurried to school and had no idea what she would face there. Neither did I.

* * * * *

(Thomas)

Monday morning. I was kind of happy to go to school today. I can't believe I'm saying this! Raven had one of her bad moods all weekend and I was getting really tired of her snappy retorts and angry outbursts. If she at least told me what was eating her but no. On Sunday evening she finally stopped being pain in the neck. She came out of her room to have a supper with me and father suddenly looking very smug. She didn't tell me what was that about either. School was a welcome change of atmosphere then. And of course the anticipation to see Kellie Heffner again had a lot to do with that too.

I spent the whole weekend thinking about her. First I was worried if she got home safely. I didn't trust the big guy who called himself Chris' father. However, when I casually walked by the Heffner house I saw no police cars, so I guessed he returned her home as he said.

I really need to get Kellie's phone number so I could call her next time and check on her without needing to hang around her house like a stalker. Which I'm not!

Yeah, her phone number was the least thing I could get for saving her. She throwing herself into my arms would be better, but one must be realistic.

With these thoughts I walked in the locker room and into another Kellie situation.

Apparently my sister decided to make Kellie's life even more miserable. As if the poor sweet girl didn't have enough on her plate already.

"Do you like your newly decorated locker, you slobber faced skank?""You did this?! Why?""So that everyone knows what a freak you are, of course! Kissing your brother, ugh! I also put the picture of you trying to swallow your brother's face on Simnet.""What have I ever done to you to hate me so much, Raven?""You mean except for being born? I believe the fact itself is quite enough. Now eat this, trollop!"

And then before I could stop her my dearest sister threw a drink into Kellie's face. I also couldn't but notice Kellie's best friend Kristi ignoring her completely. Shouldn't she be defending her or something?

​"Stop it, Raven! Leave her alone!"

​"Hello, little brother. You can try all you want to be a knight in shining armor for her, but she will never be yours. She loves her brother, imagine that! Go find a better girl for yourself. The Heffner family is full of freaks. Better stay away from them."

Finally things started making sense. This was about the legacy boy. He must have dumped my sister. Usually it was her who did all the dumping. That must have hurt really bad. What I did not understand was the part about Kellie kissing her brother and being in love with him. Did I miss something? But it can wait.

"I thought spraying lockers was beneath you, Raven. When did that change?""When everything else fails...""He hurt you, I understand," I hissed. "But taking it out at his sister won't change anything. She has nothing to do with what happened between you and Chris.""She has everything to do with it. In fact, if it wasn't for her... She may look innocent as an angel, Thomas, but I assure you she's not! She ruined everything! She has to pay!"

"Then I'm telling you I won't let you torture her! She's been through a lot lately, you have no idea. Leave her alone. I mean it, sis. You don't want to piss me off more than I already am!"

My words seemed to work. That and the fact that Raven had never seen me this angry before. She finally backed off.

The students finally stopped staring at us and started leaving the room. I looked at Kellie. She was sitting curled up on the ground. It was breaking my heart seeing her like this.

​"Kellie... Please, don't cry. Come on, get up."

I helped her up to her feet. I realized it was the first time I ever touched her. This should have been a magical moment, I had longed for it to happen, but not in a situation like this. And yet I knew I would remember how warm and soft the skin of her arm felt under my fingers for the rest of my days. I wanted to hold her close and let her take cover in my arms. I wanted to take away all the bad things that had been happening to her. But I knew I shouldn't do that. I doubted she would let me anyway.

​She raised her beautiful eyes to me. "Why are you even helping me, Thomas? She's your sister. Shouldn't you take her side in all situations? You know, family and all that."

"I'm really sorry for Raven. She's... complicated. I love her, but I don't always agree with what she's doing. Today she made me feel ashamed to be her brother and I really hate that. But what I hate even more is to see you hurt. It looks I tend to catch you in terrible situations. Let's not make a rule out of it. Perhaps we could go out sometime... What the plum are you doing, Thomas? ...for a coffee or ice-cream... Are you really asking her out right now? ...to a nice quiet place..."

She looked at the writings on her locker and then back at me. "I kissed my brother. See? I'm a brother lover and a slutty freak of nature. Doesn't it bother you at all?"

Those were horrible words. Seeing them written on her locker was one thing, but hearing Kellie say them aloud was even worse. Those words weren't directed at me and yet I felt cut by their edge too. She kissed her brother. So what? We are young, we experiment! It's not like she slept with him. And everyone knows she's adopted anyway. Is it awkward? Yes. Is it an insurmountable problem? No. I flashed a smile at her. "Maybe I'm hoping that if you spend some time with me and get to know me, you'll forget all other guys even your brother."

She gave me a doubtful look and said nothing.

"Or... If you have a thing for siblings, my family could adopt you too so that I could become your brother, and if you then feel the urge to kiss me, I can promise you I won't put up any resistance."

Kellie's eyes widened.

Now you really stepped into it, Thomas. Can't you keep your mouth shut for a minute?

She made a strange sound. It was something between a sob and a hiccup.

"Sorry. Too soon?"

Then I noticed the corners of her mouth twitched. She doubled up and bursted into laughter. Between the attepts to catch her breath she managed to say, "Thomas Nightshade, I never regarded you as funny."

I made her laugh! I was on cloud nine. "Does it mean I get the kiss?"

She started laughing again. "Can you imagine Raven's reaction if I became her sister? And then kissed you?" she said between two breaths.

I motioned toward the locker grinning. "It would probably earn you a bonus title in your collection."

She laughed again.

"Listen, Kellie. What if we skipped the school today? Together."

She frowned. "I don't know. Actually, I have never played truant."

"But you have to, at least once in a life. Let's go. Let me be your truancy instructor!"

She giggled. "Okay. Missing one day is no big deal, I guess. And I could really use a friend, plus the ice-cream."

I couldn't believe it. I was really going out with the most beautiful girl in school. I was drunk. I was high, on Kellie Heffner.

​"Here we are. Ready for the real brain freeze, Kellie?"

"I bet I have more experience in eating all kinds of ice-cream than you. I'm cold resistant!"

"Okay. But don't hesistate to ask for first aid when your resistance fails."

"We would like a table for two. Preferably not by the bathroom door. Thank you."

"Of course she gave us the table next to the bathroom. Well, at least the decoration is nice. Do you think she didn't like me? Or is it just that old people are jealous of us young people for having the whole life still ahead of us?"

"I don't think that's true. Not about all old people."

"Well, then it must have been my unlikeable personality what earned us the worst table. I'm sincerely sorry for that."

"Because I know that you don't actually consider yourself unlikeable, Thomas, I won't give you the satisfaction of hearing me say how awesome you really are," Kellie said and winked at me.

"Wow! Thank you! Or not? I'm confused now. Where's the menu?"

"Ahhh! Brain freeze strikes! Help! How come it does nothing to you? You're eating the ice-cream way faster than me!"

"Told you I'm cold resistant. Need first aid? Coffee?"

"Nah. I'm okay."

We were having fun and then suddenly Kellie went all serious. "Thomas, I haven't properly thanked you for what you did the other night. Back in Oasis Springs. You saved me there. I will never forget that. I hope I'll be able to repay you for your help some day."

I wanted to say she could start repaying me with a kiss, luckily I managed to stop myself in time. No stupid jokes in this moment. "Don't mention it, Kellie. I would do it again. Any decent guy would. When I went outside of the bar I saw you running away and Max going after you. I knew he was up to no good so I followed him. Didn't know Javi was right behind me though."

"Still it was very brave of you to face both of them alone. Thank you again."

Could this day get any better? Well, actually it could, but we'll get there, hopefully. All in due time, Thomas.

They say time flies when you're having fun and today surely felt that way. Before we knew it was after noon. We didn't want to go home yet and so we just hung out in the park.

"...he even threatened to break my legs!"

"I can't believe he did that!"

"Oh, he did. And when we finally found you he didn't let me get any close you. He grabbed you in his giant arms and told me to go home. Of course I didn't. I followed him to his car keeping an eye on him and you. But he didn't let me in his car after he put you on the back seat. He pushed me aside and said, 'Get lost, kid, or I'll run you over!' So I did. He looked he really meant it, you know. That guy is a total weirdo."

"He was nice to me. But I think he's used to people doing what he wants them to. Uncompromising. That's how I would describe him."

"I can easily picture him patting your back with one hand while stabbing you in the guts with a knife with the other."

Kellie looked at me in shock. "That's a horrible image, Thomas!"

I shrugged. "Just saying. I didn't like him, that's all."

Nothing good lasts forever and that was this case too. I was enjoying Kellie's company, her laughter and the fact that it was me who made her laugh, when a shadow fell upon us.

"Hello Kellie. Thomas. I need to speak to my sister."

"Why, of course. Speak then."

​"Alone."

Chris' presence made Kellie tense. I could see she didn't want to talk to him.

"Let the lady decide if she wants to be with you alone." I looked Kellie in the eyes. "Does the lady wish her humble servant to stay by her side?"

She smiled at me. "It's okay, Thomas. Leave us alone. And thank you for everything again."

"We should do it again some time." I felt the happiness slipping away from my grasp. Damn!

"Sure," she said, but her mind was already miles away from me.

There's something eerie about legacy families and their members. When you see them together you realize you won't ever be able to understand them completely. As if they had a secret part of themselves that only opens up to those like them. Was my sister right when she said we better stay away from them?